Celebrations and Traditions in Spain
Useful Spanish phrases for talking about village fiestas, the Tomatina and New Year's Eve.
Almost every Spanish town has its fiestas, usually in summer, when people who moved away come home for a week of verbenas, open-air dances that go on until dawn. Some festivals are famous worldwide, like the Tomatina tomato fight in Buñol, and on Nochevieja families eat twelve grapes on the twelve midnight chimes. The cards follow a newcomer in Valencia hearing about local fiestas and spending New Year's Eve with a Spanish family.
- 1
¿Cuál es la fiesta más importante de aquí?
What's the biggest festival around here?
- 2
En agosto son las fiestas del pueblo.
In August it's the village fiestas.
- 3
Todo el que vive fuera vuelve para las fiestas.
Everyone who lives away comes back for the fiestas.
- 4
Hay verbena en la plaza hasta las tantas.
There's an open-air dance in the square until all hours.
- 5
Cada grupo de amigos tiene su peña.
Each group of friends has its own club.
- 6
Tienes que vivirlo al menos una vez.
You have to experience it at least once.
- 7
¿Qué se hace aquí en Nochevieja?
What do people do here on New Year's Eve?
- 8
Nos comemos doce uvas a medianoche, una con cada campanada.
We eat twelve grapes at midnight, one on each chime.
- 9
Si no te las acabas, da mala suerte.
If you don't finish them, it's bad luck.
- 10
Es tradición llevar ropa interior roja.
It's a tradition to wear red underwear.
- 11
¿Es verdad que os tiráis tomates?
Is it true you throw tomatoes at each other?
- 12
Es un caos, pero lo pasas genial.
It's total chaos, but you have a great time.
- 13
Ponte ropa vieja, que se va a estropear.
Wear old clothes, because they'll get ruined.
- 14
Se celebra el último miércoles de agosto.
It's held on the last Wednesday of August.
- 15
No me lo pierdo por nada del mundo.
I wouldn't miss it for the world.
- 16
¿En tu país tenéis alguna tradición parecida?
Do you have a similar tradition in your country?
- 17
Nos juntamos toda la familia y cenamos juntos.
The whole family gets together and we have dinner.
- 18
Cuando yo era pequeño, era distinto.
When I was little, it was different.
- 19
Hoy en día todo es más comercial.
Nowadays everything is more commercial.
- 20
¡Feliz año! Que venga cargadito de cosas buenas.
Happy New Year! Here's hoping it brings lots of good things.